Buck

Great documentaries take on the characteristics of their subjects, as evidenced in the high-octane Senna, the enigmatic Bill Cunningham: New York and the rousing Man on Wire. In bringing the tale of real-life horse whisperer Buck Brannaman to the screen, Cindy Meehl’s debut bears more than a passing resemblance to the humble, honest and hardworking man at the centre, with the eponymous effort brimming with gentleness and genuine goodness.

A child trick-rope star turned rodeo circuit stalwart, Brannaman spends nine months of the year on the road. Taking his natural horsemanship clinic around the country, the leading equine handler helps animal owners to work confidently with their charges, cultivating a devoted following in the process. After attending one of his workshops, former clothing designer Meehl was moved to capture his actions on film. Securing his participation, she traversed the expanse of the United States on his annual pilgrimage, chronicling his exceptional ways with horses and humans.

Accordingly, the innately sensitive and sweet-natured documentary assembles interviews with clinic participants, ranchers and his friends and family – including his amusing elderly stepmother – to take audiences on a tour of Brannaman’s uncomplicated existence. In between, the figure himself shares stories of his tormented upbringing at the hands of his abusive father, and the no-nonsense outlook on life that eventuated, with both influencing his horse-training technique.

As touching as the combined recollections and Brannaman’s philosophical musings are, it is the footage of him in action that elicits the most emotion. It is immediately easy to understand his impact on those around him, based on his empathetic efforts with even the most troubled animals. The plight of one particularly headstrong horse provides an apt example, with the transformation under his guidance simply amazing. Another stallion is among the rare few unable to be tamed, yet the professional handler employs the same understated approach.

This isn’t the first time Brannaman has been involved in film, with author Nicolas Evans using him as the basis for The Horse Whisperer, and Robert Redford utilising his services on the resulting Hollywood feature. However, the fictional rendering is unable to convey the astounding reality of the plain-spoken subject, nor his affecting nature. In a beautifully photographed, thoughtfully constructed offering, Meehl expresses his inspiring essence with elegance and authenticity. As a result, Buck is a meaningful, moving and multi-layered portrait of a man who proves to be all of these things.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Buck
Director: Cindy Meehl
USA, 2011, 88 min

Distributor: Madman
Rated PG
In cinemas Thursday 16 February 2012